High Protein Slow Cooker Chicken for Weight Loss

The hardest part of eating for weight loss is not the willpower — it is the cooking. This slow cooker chicken removes the cooking entirely. Ten minutes of prep in the morning, six hours on low, and you come back to tender chicken that shreds with two forks. One serving has 45g of protein and only 310 calories, and it works in salads, wraps, bowls and sandwiches all week.

There is no cream, no sugar and no bottled sauce here. The flavour comes from garlic, paprika, onion and lemon in low-sodium broth. The chicken cooks in that broth, so it stays juicy instead of drying out, which is the usual problem with plain chicken breast.

Why you’ll love it

• 45g protein per serving, 310 calories
• 10 minutes of prep, the slow cooker does the rest
• One batch makes 4 servings — cook once, eat all week
• Shreds easily, so it works in almost any meal

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts (about 700g)
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp salt
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Fresh parsley, chopped, to serve

Equipment used

• A 6-quart slow cooker — big enough for a full batch without crowding
• Two forks, or meat shredder claws, for shredding

Instructions

1. Mix the broth, garlic, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper and lemon juice in the slow cooker.
2. Lay the onion slices on the bottom, then place the chicken breasts on top in a single layer.
3. Pour the broth mixture over the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours (or HIGH for 3 hours, if you are short on time).
5. Lift the chicken out and shred it with two forks. It should fall apart easily.
6. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it through the cooking liquid for 2 minutes so it soaks up the flavour. Serve with parsley on top.

Tips

• Low and slow is better. Six hours on low gives you juicier chicken than three hours on high.
• Do not lift the lid while it cooks — every peek adds about 20 minutes to the time.
• The shredded chicken keeps 4 days in the fridge and freezes well for up to 3 months. Freeze it with a little of the cooking liquid so it stays moist.
• Short on time? Use a rotisserie chicken instead and skip the slow cooker — but the protein per serving stays about the same.

Nutrition (per serving)

Estimated nutrition per serving

These are estimated macros based on standard ingredient values, not lab-measured results.

FAQ

Can I use frozen chicken breasts?

It is safer to thaw them first. Frozen chicken spends too long in the danger zone in a slow cooker, and it also releases extra water that thins the broth.

Can I cook it on high?

Yes — 3 hours on high works. The chicken will be slightly less juicy than the 6-hour low version, but the macros are the same.

What do I eat it with?

Anything. Salad, rice bowls, wraps, sandwiches, or just on its own with vegetables. One batch covers four different dinners if you vary the sides.

High Protein Slow Cooker Chicken

Sophia Martinez

Tender shredded chicken cooked low and slow in garlic, paprika and lemon broth. 45g protein, only 310 calories per serving.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 310 kcal

Equipment

• A 6-quart slow cooker big enough for a full batch without crowding
• Two forks, or meat shredder claws for shredding

Ingredients

  

• 4 chicken breasts about 700g
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1 onion sliced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Fresh parsley chopped, to serve

Instructions

 

• Mix the broth, garlic, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper and lemon juice in the slow cooker.
• Lay the onion slices on the bottom, then place the chicken breasts on top in a single layer.
• Pour the broth mixture over the chicken.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours (or HIGH for 3 hours, if you are short on time).
• Lift the chicken out and shred it with two forks. It should fall apart easily.
• Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it through the cooking liquid for 2 minutes so it soaks up the flavour. Serve with parsley on top.

Notes

Cook on LOW for best results. Do not lift the lid while cooking. Store up to 4 days refrigerated; freeze up to 3 months with some cooking liquid.

Keyword chicken, high protein, meal prep, shredded chicken, slow cooker, weight loss

Kitchen essentials for this recipe

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